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Entrepreneurship is taking off, success stories are
cropping up, the ecosystem is taking shape, and accelerators and
investors are setting up shop, said attendees at the CEED Annual
Conference in Casablanca on September 15-16.

Set at Bouskoura Golf City, the event wasn't what
you’d expect from an entrepreneurship event: the venue was
inaccessible to public transport and almost too chic with men in
suits outnumbering founders and young entrepreneurs.

Among the 500 people who attended the event were the usual
suspects - CEED members, mostly running very small companies, and
entrepreneurs - but what was different was the presence of
Jordanian accelerator Oasis 500 and Flat6Labs,
the accelerator with a presence in Egypt, UAE, KSA, and soon
Lebanon and possibly also Morocco.

Universities and corporations were also there to learn more
about the people and companies they believe could be the future of
Morocco.

“I’m looking for information on what’s going on for young
entrepreneurs in Morocco,” said Debbie Duncan of the American
University of Leadership/PIIMT in Rabat. “I took notes at
every lecture I sat in. I’m also looking for contacts to find
different resources that will grow my school and my students.”

A panel discussion on opportunities and benefits for Moroccan
startups to work with VCs and corporations brought out the
optimists.

Leyth Znyber, who recently started an investment fund for impact
projects, Eirené4Impact, noted that the quality of applications to
his fund as well as interest from corporations is growing. He said
some corporate/startup collaborations should be announced soon.

And after only just few days in Morocco, Oasis 500 investor
Faisal El Bitar concurred.

“There is a lot of potential in the market,” he said.
“Different players in the market are now realizing the importance
of the startup scene and are looking to engage to support the
Moroccans entrepreneurs.”

But does that mean the event was useful to
entrepreneurs?

“Here, you listen to successful people who motivate
you and help you refocus,” said Cédric Plane, who runs an HR agency
and is now building the hiring platform OMyJobs.

“Listening to other people’s story helps you deal with
the loneliness. [Some entrepreneurs] succeed, for others it takes
more time. You’re not the only one to struggle,” he added.

The focus
was put on the networking though. And the usual buffet was replaced
with a seated three-course lunch.

Ismail Bargach explaining LIK to his table
neighbors.

“We asked entrepreneurs who registered what companies
they’d like to meet,” said CEED Morocco president Fatima-Zahra
Oukacha.

“We tried to bring them over and sit them at the same
tables as the entrepreneurs who express their interest.”

Some workshops were canceled due low attendance, and
discussions were geared towards less-experienced entrepreneurs.

But the energetic and educational discussions with
Mutandis president Adil Douiri and priceline.com founder Jeff
Hoffman reminded entrepreneurs that it’s important to be patient
and to give themselves the means to make their dreams come
true.

The event ended with the requisite startup pitch. Once
again it was LIK, a startup that allows people to get free phone
credit, that won the IBM SMART CAMP, an international competition
organized by IBM in 16 countries. LIK will present its service in
the Silicon Valley during LAUNCH Scale.

Now all the organizations present during the event
will have to turn those intentions into actions.

“Morocco has a lot to offer as an upcoming strong
startup hub in the region,” said Flat6Labs CEO Ramez Mohamed.

He said to make this happen consolidated efforts from
the local and regional players were needed to:

1) identify the best current startups and provide them
with the capital, support and exposure to be able to grow and
create the next big success stories out of Morocco.

2) help build new sustainable and well-structured
programs like incubators and accelerators

3) work consistently at the grass root level to raise
awareness about entrepreneurship at schools, universities,
coworking spaces and various advocacy groups, to promote the
entrepreneurial culture and values and motivate more young people
to start their businesses and help grow them.

Aline is startup storyteller and journalist. Previously she was Wamda's French editor and an entrepreneur, opening The Blue House residence for international startups in a Moroccan surf town. You can follow her on Twitter @YallahAline.